I’d recommend getting comfy, this is a long one. Welcome to my thesis project:
For my thesis, I decided to create a box set of some of the most popular sacred texts worldwide with a cohesive style and aesthetic. While I focused on only one box set, I imagine this project as a company that puts out many of these sets with different religions and cultures. But because I can’t possibly do every religious and sacred text in the world, I narrowed the project down to religions in Asia.
Sacred Texts of Asia: An Anthology of Ancient Asian Scripture is a set of three books that include photography, illustrated patterns, and hand-lettered callouts as well as intricate covers that would look stunning on a shelf as a collection. I decided to center the project around Asian religion and cultures and picked three sacred texts, The Quran, The Kojiki, and The Bhagavad Gita. This massive project consists of over 100 pages of type, 27 unique hand-drawn patterns, and a collection of lettering in Arabic, Japanese, and Hindi.
If you would like to go through all 100 pages, the full texts can be found at the bottom of this page, I’d recommend getting a snack or a drink before diving into that. If you don’t have the time, or the desire, to read all of it, don’t worry this page breaks down some highlights of the project. So without further ado, guys, gals, and non-binary pals, I present my thesis.
For the Quran, I referenced motifs in Arabic architecture as well as traditional Islamic geometric patterns. In Islamic art, a circle represents unity and diversity and is commonly used as the base for patterns and symbols. Symmetry and repetition are also important in Islamic art. I used these patterns in my hand-lettered elements and deconstructed them to create individual icons and decorative frames.
The table of contents of all three books contains the text “Table of Contents” in the book’s original language. It includes the chapters in the original language as well as English. The table of contents lists the entirety of each book. While I did not lay type for every page of the books, I created a system as well as a handful of spread designs that could be applied to the entire texts.
In the Quran, each chapter starts with The Basmala. This phrase translates to “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.” Each chapter starts with the phrase, which I wrote in Arabic with the assistance of some friends. I used the patterns from above to fill the text and the matching icon above the chapter title.
I used those same icons to break up pages with large amounts of text. Because of the size of the Quran, there would be a lot of pages of pure text. This book uses both the Mr. and Mrs. Eaves type family throughout.
Additionally, I used the icons as decorative elements around the hand-lettering, multiplied over photography and in intricate borders and stripes. By breaking down the patterns into these icons, I was able to create consistency in the book’s embellishments.
Feel free to view all the pages that I created on Issuu here or scroll through the pages below. Or don’t, that’s totally your call. But I do ask that you keep scrolling because there are still two more books and I’d hate for you to miss out on them.
For the Kojiki, I drew inspiration from Japanese Wagara, the traditional patterns dating back to the 8th century Heian period and that often appear on kimono fabric. These patterns include Asanoha (based on the hemp leaf), Seigaiha (the ocean), Tachiwaku, (steam), and Yagasuri (arrows)
Because Japanese calligraphy runs vertically, I shifted the layout of the table of contents but kept the premise the same. In this book, I included important phrases from each chapter as a hand-lettered vertical callout. Additionally, the Kojiki is divided into 3 books, so I included dividing pages to break the content up.
Once again, I wrote in traditional Japanese calligraphy with the assistance of some friends and I used the patterns from above to fill the text and the matching icon above the chapter title.
I included other vertical elements, like the floral stripes (right) or solid white vertical stripe (above).
Once again, I used the icons as decorative elements, over photography and in intricate borders and stripes.
Click here to view this book on Issuu or scroll click through all of the pages that I created for the Kojiki below. And keep scrolling too! There’s still one more left.
For the Bhagavad Gita, I drew inspiration from Indian fabrics as well as traditional Mehendi and Rangoli designs. Mehendi is a well-known form of temporary tattooing. Rangoli is traditional Indian art made with colored powders. Both often have mandalas, paisleys and floral motifs.
The Bhagavad Gita is divided into 19 chapters. With the help of my family, I wrote in each chapter number in Hindi to include on the first page of that chapter. Once again, I used the patterns from above to fill the text and the matching icon above the chapter title.
Throughout all three books, I included photographs with overlayed patterns and icons. These photographs include various buildings and activities that are sacred to each religion. By overlaying the icons, I was able to create a tie between the photographic and illustrative elements.
Additionally, I used the icons as decorative elements around the hand-lettering, multiplied over photography and in intricate borders and stripes. By breaking down the patterns into these icons, I was able to create consistency in the book’s embellishments.
All of the pages that I created for the Bhagavad Gita can be found on Issue here or seen below. I hope you enjoyed looking at this project as much as I enjoyed making it. Thanks for taking the time to make it all the way down here!
project specifications
PROGRAMS: Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop
FONTS: Mrs. Eaves, Mr. Eaves, Hand-lettering
PHOTOGRAPHY: Unsplash.com
ART DIRECTION: Scott Laserow